Portable target stand



Nov. 28, 1967 HUTSQN 3,355,174

PORTABLE TARGET STAND Filed March 26, 1964 Lawrence W Hufson 1N VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,355,174 PORTABLE TARGET STAND Lawrence W.I-Iutson, Alamogordo, N. Mex., assignor to Hutson and Sons, Ina, acorporation of Texas Filed Mar. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 354,960 Claims. (Cl.273-102) This invention relates to a composite target and, incombination therewith, a portable knockdown stand and wherein both thetarget and stand are of unique form and construction for compatiblyunited usage.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a target andoriented stand combination which is simple in construction, compact andconvenient for expedient carrying and handling, is steady and reliablewhen set up for use, even on a windy day, and which satisfactorilyserves the ends and purposes for which it is adaptably used.

A further and significant object is to improve upon and update prior arttargets and stands, for example, the outmoded easel-type folding standand target disclosed in the McBride Patent 429,942 of June 10, 1890, andthe adjustable clip retained sheet material target disclosed in Clark3,080,166 of Mar. 5, 1963. To the ends desired, the herein disclosedadaptation comprises a sturdy, legsupported frame which is unique inthat it provides coacting channel members which define an efiicientreceiver in which the insertable and removable target is rigidlypocketed, whereby to facilitate target handling steps. Manifestly aflimsy paper or equivalent target is objectionable on windy days. Hence,the target herein revealed comprises a solid backing panel and wherein apaper or similar sheet material printed targe is spread upon, Ell'fiXGdto, and reliably backed up by the panel.

In carrying out the present invention a pair of pointed groundpenetrating legs are screwed into adapter nuts which are fixed to theunderneath side of the web of a channel-type horizontal frame member andare accordingly readily appreciable and removable. When removed theselegs can be and are neatly stored on the rearward side of the targetsframe. The means for accomplishing this novel result permits the legs tobe crisscrossed and availably stored within the outer marginal limits ofthe frame where they are out of the way and make for ready handling andtransporting.

More specifically, a horizontal angle iron is mounted on the upper openend portions of the vertical frame members and spans the space betweensaid frame members. It is so located and arranged that it not onlyrigidifies the overall frame but assists in supporting means which, inturn, assists in storing the aforementioned legs.

Further, and in keeping with the concept, novel members are used to rackand store the crossed legs. Briefly, individual sleeves of a pair oflike sleeves are diagonally anchored at left and right corners of theframe and are properly angled or canted. These sleeves serve to encloseand shield the pointed ends of the legs when the latter are stored. Thebores of the sleeves coverage upwardly and are lined up with threadedholes in cooperating oblique angled nuts, one fixed in the lefthandupper corner of the frame and the other one fixed in the upper righthandcorner. With the sleeves and nuts oriented as shown the upperscrew-threaded ends of the crossed legs are screwed into theirrespective nuts. Accordingly, the legs can be stored neatly andprotectively out of the way.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

3,355,174 Patented Nov. 28, 1967 FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective ofthe improved portable target and stand combination set up and ready foruse;

FIGURE 2 is a view on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of thehorizontal section line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation showing the rearward side of thedismantled stand with the target still in place and with the detachablelegs stored in an 0ut-of-the-way position on said rearward side;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one upper corner portionof the frame showing how the screw-threaded end of one leg is screwedinto a fixedly angled or canted retaining nut provided therefor;

FIGURE 5 is likewise a fragmentary perspective view with parts appearingin section and elevation showing one of the canted sleeves and how itfunctions to protectively enclose the pointed end of the cooperatingleg; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view based on FIG. 5 and whichshows, in addition to the sleeve, the underlying fixed nut which isprovided as an adapter for the screw-threaded upper end of one of thedetachable legs.

The aforementioned frame, which is preferably but not necessarily,rectangular in configuration is denoted by the numeral 8. The changeableor insertable and removable target, construed as a unit, is denoted bythe numeral 10. The legs which are of duplicate construction are denotedby the numeral 12. Each leg comprises a rigid rod whose lowerground-penetrating end is pointed as at 14. The upper end isscrew-threaded at 16 (FIG. 4).

The frame 8 is characterized by three similarly constructed channelirons, the bottom or horizontal channel iron being denoted at 18 and thetwo complemental vertical channel irons at 20. The lower end portions ofthe channel irons 20 are appropriately mitered and joined withcooperating mitered end portions of the bottom channel iron 18 asdenoted generally at 22.. The channel of the bottom frame member orchannel iron 18 opens upwardly and communicates with the channelportions of the two vertical channel irons 20. Accordingly, the severalchannels provide a receiver and holder for the bodily insertable andremovable target means 10. It will be noted, too, that the upper ends ofthe channels in the members 20 are unobstructedly open to permitinsertion and removal of the target. The frame also includes an upwardlydisposed rearwardly positioned angle iron 24 (FIG. 4). The depending orvertical flange 26 is fixed to the cooperating fiange 28 and the upperhorizontal flange 30 is flush with the upper open ends of the channelirons 20. This angle iron 24- spans the space between the frame members20 and results in providing a four-part rigid frame.

The rearwardly facing respective lefthand and righthand end portions ofthe angle iron 24 serve to support the canted or oblique angled legretaining nut one of which is denoted at the left by the numeral 32 andthe other one at the right at 34. These nuts are referred to, FIG. 3, asbeing located at the upper left corner and upper right corner. As moreclearly shown in FIG. 4 each nut is Welded or otherwise aflixed in placeas denoted generally at 36 so that the predetermined canted position ofthe nut is had. With further reference to FIG. 3 the sleeve or collarwhich is located in the lower lefthand corner on the rearward side ofthe frame is denoted by the numeral 38 and the duplicate sleeve, whichis located in the lower righthand corner is denoted by the numeral 40.When properly mounted the two sleeves converge upwardly and the boresthereof are axially aligned with the screwthreaded holes in theircompanion or cooperating nuts. This is to say, the bore 42 (FIG. 5) inthe sleeve 38 is lined up with the screw-threaded hole 44 in the nut 34.The reverse is true with respect to the sleeve 40 in that the bore (notdetailed) is lined up with the screw-threaded hole provided therefor inthe coinciding nut 32. It is evident that the legs 12 are not onlycorresponding in construction they are each of a predetermined lengththat they can be fittingly anchored and stored in the out-ofthe-wayposition shown in FIG. 3. To accomplish this satisfactorily the medianportions of the legs are crossed as denoted at 46 (FIG. 3). By crossingthe legs and screwing the screw-threaded ends into the respective nuts32 and '34 and positioning the pointed ends in the respectivelycooperating sleeves or collars the desired compact and convenientstorage and ready-to-carry result is attained.

With respect now to FIGS. and 6 it will be noted that the web 43 of thelower frame member or channel iron 18 is provided at its respective endswith adapter nuts one at the left as denoted at 50 (FIG. 1) and theother one at the right as denoted at 52. These nuts are welded orotherwise afiixed flatwise to the web in the manner illustrated, forexample, in FIG. 6. These nuts 50 and 52 serve to permit thescrew-threaded upper ends of the legs to be screwed in place and aptlyheld in coplanar spaced apart ready-to-use parallel relation.

It will be evident that when the overall target is being used the upperscrew-threaded ends of the legs 12 are joined with their intendedanchoring nuts 59 and 52. When the legs are not in use they areunscrewed from said nuts 50 and 52 and stored in crossed relation in themanner illustrated in FIGURE 3.

It is further to be noted that the angle iron 24 when mounted in themanner shown and described is out of the way of the upper open ends ofthe frame members whereby to facilitate the necessary step of insertingand removing the changeable target 10. The target is such in shape anddimensions that it can be fitted snugly but removably into the receivingand retaining channels of the U-shaped frame. Instead of using aflexible chart a composite chart, as is common practice, is employed andcomprises a rigid or solid backing panel 54. The panel shown isrectangular, flat-faced and reversible and is customarily made fromrigid cardboard or equivalent firm stock. While it is possible to have atarget sheet on both sides it is usually sufficient to provide but asingle target sheet as at 56. This is conformable to and sheet is spreadupon and glued or otherwise fastened to the backing panel. As a matterof fact the target 56 can be temporarily or"detachably mounted on thebacking panel if such is the preferred mode of use.

With the portable knockdown target stand arranged and set up for use asillustrated in FIG. 1 and with the components 54 and 56 of the targetassembled and with the target in place in the holder or frame theoverall structure is adapted for ready and reliable use.

The manner in which the legs 12 are detached and stored in anout-of-the-way position will be evident by considering FIG. 3 generallyand the details of construction more specifically in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. Amore extended description is thought to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A target and portable knockdown stand comprising, in combination, aframe embodying channel-irons joined in planar cooperating relationship,the channel portions thereof communicatively cooperating and providing atrack like receiver and holder, an insertable and removable compositetarget, said target comprising a solid backing panel with a standardpaper target superimposed upon and aflixed to a front surface thereof,said target being fitted into said holder, a pair of frame erecting andsupporting legs, means on a bottom marginal portion of said frame fordetachably joining the legs to said frame in planar spaced apartparallel relationship, and means on a rearward side of saidchannel-irons for removably storing the legs in criss-crossedrelationship when they are not in use.

2. The structure defined in claim '1, and wherein said storing meanscomprises a pair of open-ended sleeves afiixed to the respective lowercorner portions of said frame, and a pair of 'nuts affixed to therespective upper corner portions, said sleeves being canted and disposedin upwardly converging relationship, and said nuts also being fixedlycanted, whereby the nut in the upper righthand corner coincides for usewith the sleeve in the lower lefthand corner and contrawise the nut inthe upper lefthand corner coincides for use with the sleeve in the lowerrighthand corner.

3. A target and portable knockdown stand combination, said standcomprising, a horizontal upwardly opening channel-iron, a pair ofcoplanar spaced parallel vertical channel-irons having lower endsaffixed to respective outer ends of said horizontal channel-iron anddefining a substantially U-shaped receiving and holding frame for atarget, the respective channel portions of said channel-irons being inunobstructed communication with each other, a horizontal angle-ironbridging the space between upper open end portions of said verticalchannel-irons and having a vertical bottom flange affixed to rearwardflanges embodied in the vertical channel-irons and also having arearwardly projecting horizontal top flange, a first pair of nutsaffixed to the bottom side of said horizontal channel-iron at therespective outer end portions, and a pair of duplicate interchangeabledepending frameerecting and supporting legs having free lower pointedground-penetrating ends and upper screw-threaded ends removably screwedinto their respectively cooperating nuts, and target means comprising arigid fiat-faced panel fitted slidingly and removably in the orientedcommunicating channel portions of said channel-irons, and a sheetmaterial tanget superimposed upon and cooperatively attached to a frontface of said panel.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 and, in combination, means on therearwardly facing side of said frame for supporting and maintaining saidlegs in cris-crossed relationship when they are not in use comprising apair of open-ended sleeves aflixed to the respective lower cornerportions of said frame, and a pair of nuts affixed to the respectiveupper corner portions of said frame, said sleeves being canted anddisposed in upwardly converging relationship, and said nuts also beingfixedly canted, whereby the nut in the upper righthand corner coincidesfor use with the sleeve in the lower lefthand corner and contrawise thenut in the upper lefthand corner coincides for use with the sleeve inthe lower righthand corner, the screw-threaded upper ends of said legsadapted to screw into their respectively cooperable nuts, and thepointed lower ends of said legs being adapted to protectively telescopeinto the bores of their respectively cooperable sleeves.

5. A portable knockdown stand for a rigid target comprising a horizontalupwardly opening channel-iron, a pair of coplanar spaced parallelvertical channel-irons at right angles to and having lower ends affixedto respective outer ends of said horizontal channel-iron and defining atarget receiving and holding frame, said frame being U- shaped inelevation, a horizontal angle-iron bridging the space between upper openend portions of said vertical channel-irons and having a vertical bottomflange aflixed to rearward flanges of the vertical channel-irons and arearwardly projecting horizontal top flange, a first pair of nutsaffixed to the bottom side of the horizontal channel-iron at therespective outer end portions, and a pair of depending frame-erectingand supporting legs having lower pointed ground-penetrating ends andupper screwthreaded ends, the latter removably screwed into theirrespectively cooperating nuts, a pair of canted sleeves afiixed to therespective lefthand and righthand corner portions of said frame andconverging upwardly with their bores axially aligned with the alternateupper left and right corner portions of said frame, and a pair of nutsalso canted and afiixed to the left and right end portions of thevertical flange of said angle iron, aligned with the bore of the sleevein the lower lefthand corner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,064,039 6/1913 Wise 40-125 6Courtenay 40-452.] Shinn 40 125 Wallace. Tempest 273-102 Bunnerlight273105.6 Miller 273-402 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

0 DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner.

1. A TARGET AND PORTABLE KNOCKDOWN STAND COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AFRAME EMBODYING CHANNEL-IRONS JOINED IN PLANAR COOPERATING RELATIONSHIP,THE CHANNEL PORTIONS THEREOF COMMUNICATIVELY COOPERATING AND PROVIDING ATRACK-LIKE RECEIVER AND HOLDER, AN INSERTABLE AND REMOVABLE COMPOSITETARGET, SAID TARGET COMPRISING A SOLID BACKING PANEL WITH A STANDARDPAPER TARGET SUPERIMPOSED UPON THE AFFIXED TO A FRONT SURFACE THEREOF,SAID TARGET BEING FITTED INTO SAID HOLDER, A PAIR OF FRAME ERECTING ANDSUPPORTING LEGS, MEANS ON A BOTTOM MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID FRAME FORDETACHABLY JOINING THE LEGS TO SAID FRAME IN PLANAR SPACED APARTPARALLEL RELATIONSHIP, AND MEANS ON A REARWARD SIDE OF SAIDCHANNEL-IRONS FOR REMOVABLY STORING THE LEGS IN CRISS-CROSSEDRELATIONSHIP WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN USE.